“Ask, and it will be given you”

Reflection for Thursday of 27th Week in Ordinary Time
(Gal 3:1-5; Lk 11:5-13)

Jesus continues the discourse on prayer. Today He highlights the approach we must adopt in order to receive the answers. The parable of the man who went o his friend at midnight to ask for bread teaches persistence in prayer. “Ask, and it will be given you...”

Friendship with God, therefore, is at the foundation of prayer. “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘friend, lend me three loaves...’” Such a man can go to no other at that hour except his friend. The friendship between them moves him with confidence and freedom. And it is firstly the energy of their friendship, rather than the pain of his lack, that would inspire him to keep knocking, even when his friend delays. While friendship itself is enough reason for him to receive the “loaves”, his persistence constitutes another level of reason to open the doors. Friendship germinates perseverance in prayer, but without perseverance the friendship shrinks.

“Seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” God gives good gifts to His children. In fact, “The heavenly Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” The answer to our prayer is assured. But we must maintain friendship with God. “You are my friends, if you do what I command you (Jn 15:14). Whatever we do to sustain this friendship with Jesus is part of persistent in prayer! It is only when prayer flows from friendship can it lead to contemplation. 

The idea of some people looking for solution to their problems without aligning their lives in friendship with Jesus, is deceptive. This attitude can lead to church hoping. Jesus condemned this attitude among those who came to him for miracles without believing in Him. “It is an evil and unfaithful generation asking for a sign, and the only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah” (Mt 16:4).

Let our prayers be defined by love of God, friendship with Him. Thus we can taste the sweetness of prayer, and the energy to persevere. This kind of prayer is itself victory over all our needs. “Ask, and it will be given you.”

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Holy Family Catholic Church,
Festac Town, Lagos.
Thursday October 11, 2018.